Date: 19 November, 2009

In this recession framework, businesses have to cut unnecessary costs and plan well to get the best contribution from their staff. Technology like Video Conferencing can do this and more. It’s no secret that video conferencing saves money, so why is it that NI firms are slow to pick up on the technology?

James Conlon of NIAVAC Audio Visual says that the potential for growth in this area is huge. “Five years ago it was only the large, multi office companies that were employing video conferencing, but now it’s a service that can be purchased very cost effectively. Many SMEs still aren’t aware of it’s affordability or indeed how it can transform the way that they do business and open up new market opportunities.

“In this age of carbon footprint consciousness and the recession framework demanding the best value from all our employees, Video Conferencing offers significant advantages to company’s looking for that competitive edge,” James says.

Case in point is O’Kane Food Services; part of the UK based Brakes Group. Senior executives with O’Kane Food Services, Lisburn regularly use NIAVAC’s AV hire facility to communicate with their London head office.

Financial Director Robert Bester explains: “Every month a team of senior managers meet the directors of Brakes at their Convent Garden offices, London. Often we’d leave for a 7am flight and not return to 10pm that night – all for a two hour meeting. Obviously, that does not represent a good use of time for our top executives so we explored the video conferencing option. We’ve used NIAVAC’s hire facility a number of times to meet with our London colleagues and it’s been very successful. It’s every bit as good as sitting in the room with them – and far more focused and personal than a lengthy phone conference.”

Robert says that the time savings aren’t just about salary issues. “The value of VC to us, is that it enables our executives to have time to work on the business, to give the benefit of their time and skills to O’Kane Food Services, rather than wasting time on ‘planes, trains and automobiles’. It also fits in with our green policy by reducing air travel and helps our staff strike a more favourable work life balance.

“Our business is growing rapidly now and I would say that VC been instrumental in running our business more efficiently and supporting that growth,” Robert adds.